Regime information for Verne IRC

Accommodation
The Verne’s residential structure consists of three standard residential buildings, an Induction unit for new Receptions and a specialist Care & Separation Unit (CSU).

Each residential building is divided into two units, giving a total of six separate Residential Units (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2), each with eighty rooms on their second and third floors.

The ground floor of each Residential Unit consists of an Association Room for Detainee activity, Dining Area for daily meals, Office Space and a communal foyer.

The Induction Unit consists of nine ground floor dormitories. New receptions are accommodated in this area, whilst they undergo an Induction programme to fully integrate them into our community.

Reception Criteria
Male Detainees aged 18 and over; committed to our care by Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) and not available for self-referral by third-party custodial services.

Community regime

Work and Education Opportunities
Detainees have the opportunity to participate in Paid Activity during their stay at The Verne. Access to Paid Activities is opened by the Activities Team.
The Activities Team
The Activities Centre Team is here to assist our Detainees to find paid work (jobs) or educational (college) activity.

Within the first couple of days of arriving at The Verne, a member of the Activity team will meet up with each Detainee. This will either be during the Centre tour or as a one to one within the Activity Centre itself. This is an excellent opportunity for our Detainees to discuss what activities they may want to get involved in and the benefits it will bring them during their time at the Verne.

Activity at IRC The Verne is voluntary and Detainees are not placed under any pressure to participate. However, the majority of our Detainees choose to participate in work or enrol in our varied education program.

Paid work at The Verne is varied; here is a flavour of what we currently have on offer:
Kitchen: Detainees help to prepare meals in the main Kitchen and learn key processes towards ensure health and safety is maintained. All members of the Kitchen staff are given the opportunity to work towards a qualification to demonstrate the skills they learn.

Woodmill: Detainees are welcomed into a state of the art Carpentry Assembly plant and Spray Shop, where they can learn how to make a vast range of furniture from cabinets to garden furniture for other Centre’s around the country. This opportunity gives Detainees great experience of what it’s like, working in a commercial workshop.
Contract services: A very popular work location at The Verne; there are two workshops, one creating breakfast packs for other centres and the other specialising in television repair.
Gardens: The Gardens Team work outside, maintaining gardens and making the fauna of the site look attractive; learning valuable skills in the process.

Recycling Centre: The Verne has a commitment to the environment and the Recycling Team are responsible for salvaging items from the site, for re-use locally or for sending to the local recycling partnership, to help us achieve a reduction in our carbon footprint.

Wing Assistants: Wing Assistants perform a very important role in keeping the Detainee Residential Units, both inside and outside, clean and tidy to the benefit of the entire community. Wing Assistants also assist in the serving of meals within each Residential Unit and also managing the residential Laundries.
Wing Peer Support Workers: An important and entrusted role at The Verne; our Wing Peer Support workers are here to assist all Detainees by providing care, support and advice with any issues presented by their peer group.

Barbers: A Training Hairdresser imparts skills on Detainee to help them learn how to cut hair. Once trained, they can test their skills out on their peer group, who book appointments in the Barber Shop.

Orderlies: To help keep the Centre working, we employ many Detainee orderlies to assist staff in key areas such as the Gym, Library, Internet Suite, Education, Reception, Visits and Welfare

Library
The Library at IRC The Verne is operated by Dorset County Council and stocks books in a variety of languages, with a choice of foreign newspapers and magazines. It also provides a borrowing service for music CDs and DVDs in a range of languages. The Library is open every weekday, two evenings per week and at weekends. Access to Legal Services is ascertained by signing up at the Library.

Gymnasium and sports
The Verne operates a well-equipped Gymnasium and Multi-use Gym Area (MUGA). Specific programmes for healthy lifestyles, remedial support and weight loss are available to all interested Detainees. The Physical Education team specialise in providing extensive coaching and offers all-weather sporting events in our Gym, MUGA and outside sports field.

Healthcare
Local PCT have responsibility for healthcare with local GP providing five sessions per week. There are two Dental Surgeries per week. A Chiropodist, an Optician and a GUM Clinician visits once a month. Six Mental Health sessions are provided by Registered Mental Health Nurses. The Mental Health In-reach Team visit once a week. A range of nurse-led clinics are provided each week on an appointment basis.

The establishment provides a full time Substance Misuse service, providing detoxification facilities.

Psychosocial support is offered on an assessment basis, to ensure the upmost support for those in our care. A voluntary/compliance drug testing programme is in place and accessible to all Detainees.w
Detainee Shop

The Verne provides a drop-in Detainee Shop service to Detainees, providing a range of modern conveniences from shampoo to soft drinks, socks to cooking ingredients and biscuits to writing materials.

Internet Hub
An Internet Hub is available to Detainees 7 days per week at The Verne. The length of the session is 25 minutes or 50 minutes, depending on standard or enhanced regime level.
Additional services
We have a range of organisations which can offer support to Detainees during their stay including BID (Bail Information to Detainees), The Red Cross, Verne Visitors group and Migrant Help.

Bi-Monthly, The Verne holds a sale of goods provided by the HiS Church charity (Click here for more information), giving our Detainees the opportunity to purchase a variety of food items, toys and clothing at substantiality discounted prices. All proceeds from the sale are returned to the HIS Church Charity to support the needs of the underprivileged and vulnerable in the UK and worldwide.

The complaint must detail the Senders name and address, Detainee name and either NOMS or Home Office Reference Numbers. If neither of these numerical identifiers are available then date of birth can be used.

If the complaint reveals a potential risk to staff or a Detainee, pass the call to the Control Room on:
01305 825058/59

Property
Items can be sent in to Detainees via post (secure & traceable postage is recommended) or can be handed over to Detainees during Social Visits. However, items received are subject to strict guidelines, size and weight restrictions. For further information, please contact the Detainee prior to sending.

Post
Detainees are welcome to receive postal consignments.

Rule 39 procedures apply to Legal Correspondence, as long as they are clearly marked as such and are double enveloped. Please do not send Rule 39 correspondence via fax.

Sending of monies
Detainees can receive monies, via post or during Social Visits, to spend in the Centre or hold on a personal account until the point of discharge.

It is advised that any items with a monetary value are sent into the Centre using a traceable and secure tracking service, as the Centre or HMPS cannot be held responsible for missing monies that are not documented as having arrived at this Centre.

Cheques should be made payable to 'HM Prison Service' - please note that cheques take 3 weeks to clear. Cheques should be clearly endorsed with a Detainee's NOMS/Home Office reference number, full name and date of birth. Please do not send cheques if a Detainee has already received removal directions from the UK.

Postal Orders should be endorsed as 'Payable to HM Prison Service’ - Postal Orders are treated as cash. Postal orders should be clearly endorsed with a Detainee's NOMS/Home Office reference number, full name and date of birth. Please do not send cheques if a Detainee has already received removal directions from the UK.

We endeavour to credit detainee accounts at the earliest opportunity. However, slight delays may occur in busy periods or over weekends and Public Holidays.